Vending machine



G. E. NORRIS VENDING MACHINE Filed April 20, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l IHHIIIIIIIHIHHHlllllllllllllll HHH G. E. NORRIS VENDING MACHINE Jan. 5, '1932.

Filed April 20, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gin/manto@ -liU Patented Jan. 5, 19322 lsrA'rxis VENDNG applicati@ filed. April zo,

rlhis inventionrela-tes to improvements in vending machines and particularly toy vending machines of the coin operated type wherein merchandise such asl peanuts-, hard i candy or other comestibles of like character are vended. Recently itv has been proposed to insert prizes, such as small and cheap articles of jewelry, in the candy contained'in the hopper of the machine so that fromf time to time in the operation-ot the machine one or more of such prizes will-be delivered with each purchase of peanuts or candy.

The vending machine patentedby'me! on August 14, 1923, which has` been generallyshown in the dra-wings of this application, is particularly suitable for the vending otysuch articles. However, it has been found. that the production of these smallv metallic objects may result in the clogging of the machine or interfere with theworking mecha nism thereof. Particularlyhe objects are apt to engage or-becomecaught between. the rotatable carrier used infthiszmachinef and the discharge chute thereof.A -l y i It is an object of this invention to prevent the interference of such articles ot jewelry and to provide means for the uninterrupted operation of the carrier andi the proper de-` livery of the merchandise by the 4machineit is also an object of the-invention-topro-V vide a rotatable carrier of the apparatuswith adjustablepocketstherein'so that the same may be varied in size to accommodate different kinds oarticles. Y

For a further understanding of; the1 *de-- Vice, reference is to be had to-tlie accompany ingdrawings,wherein: n

Figure 1 is a vertical-,sectional View taken'- through the lower portion ofthe-vending ma-- chine showingthe vendingjmechanism thereof,

ligure 2 is a horizontal sectional: View taken onthe line 2-2'of Figure 1, j 45 Figure 3 is a.Y transverse 'vertical' sectional View taken on the line-3&3 ofFigure-l, ,n

Figure 4 isla fragmentary detailed@verticall sectional View taken: onl thealine 4,-4 of Fig-- ure 2,

Figure` 5; is a detail-view of` the rotatable MACHINE- 1an. i sum1- Na. 531,413".

carrier used themachine With-,parts broken away to show underlying structure,V V

Fig-ure 6 is [an edge elevation thereof, Y Y

i Eig-ure 7 is a fragmentary detailed4 viewshowing the pockets of the carrier adjusted 5s, to accommodatesuch articles as chewing gum balls or the like: y y

Referring; more particularly to the drawings, there is disclosed genera-l-lythe structure seti forth; infmyaforementioned patentA and uo it isftlli-ere-ore believed unnecessary-to, enter i into?V a; minute description thereof which is formed toemhody a base 1 trom which arises the side walls comprising the cabinet i 2 which may -beprov-id'edwith one.- orl more 65 transparentpwalls 3'V in order that. the merchandise with-in the cabinet may be viewed y from the exteriorl thereof. The upper end of the machine is closed by any suitable top (lnot'lshown): anda which may be-removedf'or '1o the-insertion o the merchandise to be vend ed. Arrangeil-atr adistmice substantially midway of this.heightioiV the cabinet. 2 isa horizontal partition 4,; rigidly reta-ined in anl applied position-.and formed to include adis` '15 charge opening; 5- communicating with the tending;A mechanism oi' the machine.. This partitiom serves as the bottom' of the merchandise. container cabinet and supports the greater bulk; ot the merchandise.

Positioned with-'ur the; machine or cabinet; and anrangedbeneaththe partition 4-iszaiixed shelf; w-hiclr is provided-lwitlran upstanding centra-llylocated-.post Zythe latter being'receivedfw-ithin the hub-Soi' a-rotatable carrier 85 9.' The; carrier, as shown more particularlyin. Figure 5 is? prov-ide'dwith a plurality ot compartments-,10, into-which the-merchandise.- ispermitted to,Y gravitatefrom the upper por-- tienA ofthemachine-throughthe opening 5.0i` 90 the p )arl'ition-.4`-` The carrier ine this; instance is, formed to: include; a, toothed edge 14'1- disposed for'. eng-agement withJY the teetliof the gea-1112 which-is carriedby the inner lend of kanA operating sha-t 13, journaled horizontally 95 i forrotationlandhaving its-outer. end equipped with, a-,manipnlating handle 14,]wh'ich handle isfpositionedbeyond the walls-ofthe machine.,` j

- It will'befseen. that: by rotating the-:shaft 13:

thecarerier9Will-berotated about the post in 10.0

order that the filled compartments 10 of the carrier may be brought successively into registration with the discharge opening 15 formed in the shelf 6. The carrier may discharge its contents through the opening 15 and into the chute 16, which is downwardly inclined and projects through the front wall of the cabinet, the lower end of the chute being provided with the usual pivoted door 17 which when lifted will permit of the convenient removal of the contents of the chute.

The coin controlled operating mechanism of the machine is formed to include a plate 18 provided with an inwardly projectingflange 19 secured as at 20 to the shelf 6. The plate is further formed to include bearings 21 and 22 for the rotatable support of the shaft 13 and to include a coin receiving chute 23 which terminates at its upper end into a forwardly directed circular opening 24 through which the coins may be inserted to be deposited within the chute 23. Formed with the shaft 13 is a ratchet wheel 25 which has its periphery provided with an arcuate recess 26, terminating in shoulders 27. This recess is adapted to receive the arcuate shoe extension 28 provided upon a pivoted pawl 29. This pawl is pivoted as at 30 to the rear face of the plate 18 and the shoe extension 28 isdisposed to pass through an opening 31 provided in the plate 18, the opening 31 being of sufficient size as to permit of the oscillation of the pawl 29 and a consequent moving into or out of locking engagement withV the ratchet wheel 25. The shoe extension 28 is united with the body of the pawl by means of the laterally extending connection 32 which is disposed within the chute 23 and extends across the chute between the inner wall thereof and the ratchet wheel 25. The latter is provided with a fixed projection 33, which is positioned within the chute 23 and is located immediately to one side of the terminating end of the latter.

By this construction it will be noted that when a coin is deposited within the chute 23, the same will fall downwardly until itengages with the operating shaft 13 as disclosed more fully in Figure 3 and will be positioned so that the periphery of the coin will be located continuous to the 'projection' v33 and the edge of the connection 32, which latter is locatedl on a plane slightly above the true center of the coin. Thus by rotating the shaft 13v in a clockwise direction, the projection 33 of the ratchet wheel 25 will engage the coin and -force the latter towards the connection 32 elevating the same and the pawl 29 bodily and causing its shoe extension 28 to be lifted out of the recess 26 permitting said extension to clear vthe shoulders 27 so that the yratchet wheel 25 and consequently the operatingshaft 13 may be freely rotated. It will be obvious that the rotation of the shaft-13 will'bring the successive compartments 10 of the carriery into alignment with the discharge opening 15 provided in the shelf 6. To prevent rearward or backward rotation on the part of the operating shaft-13, the ratchet wheel 25 is also provided with teeth 34 which are adapted to engage a spring pressed dog 35 pivoted as at 36 to the plate 18. By the provision of the teeth 34 and the dog 5 the shaft 13 must be given a complete revolution after movement thereto has been initiated. During this rotation the coin will free itself from the connection 32 and deposit itself into the lower part of the machine` and the shoe extension 28 is then again, of course, positioned within the recess 26 due to the provision of the spring 37 con' nected to the pawl 29, to again lock the machine after a complete operation.

All of the foregoing mechanism described has been set forth in my former patent and therefore no claim is'laid thereto in this case. However, to make use of this mechanism for vending merchandise on the order of pcanuts, small hard candy and the lile with prizes or cheap jewelry therein as stated in the objects, a change in the rotatable carrier aswell as in the partition wall 4 was necessary. The change includes the forming of the partition wall with a compartment 38 which is arranged above the discharge opening 15 and has its top wall 39 spaced a considerable distance from the tcp of the carri'er 9 and one of its sides closed by the arcuate wall 40, the ends of this compartment being closed by 'vertically arranged gates 41 pivoted as at 42 and held against shoulders 43 by means of coil springs 44. AThe springs 44 are of suflicient strength to maintain the gates 41 in a verticai position and against the shoulders 43 under normal conditions when the merchandise within the pockets and a piece of jewelry or other article therein is below the top of the carrier or substantially even therewith. However should the article Vextend a distance above the upper edge of a pocket the gate or gates 41 are free to swing in the direction ofthe rotation of the carrier and permit the ewelry to pass there under preventing the same from being broken or hinder the operation of the machine. 'It has also been found desirable to provide a compartment 38.with an intermediate spring l pressed gate 45 which will act as an agitator and tend to aid in positioning the jewelry correctly within the pocket before being discharged from the apparatus. In case such jewelry should become caught in the pocket 10 and fail to drop into the discharge chute of the machine, the gate positioned in the outlet side of the compartmenty will permit the jewelry to again follow the carrier until it becomes so positioned that it will be delivered from the apparatus. The gates which are held in a vertical position to close the compartment 38 will of course, under normalconditions, hold the peanuts out of the discharge compartment and as the gates are polill sitioneol radially from thecenter ofthe pivotal point :of the carrier, thel lower edge of 'the gates will 'be arranged in alignment with the radial side walls of the pockets 10 of theA pending upon the class of inerchandisefto be vended. To this end theroarrier is `formed to `comprise two parts adjustable with respect to one another and each formed to include radial pocket defining fins 46 and 47. The

ins 46 of the lower part 9 are positioned between the walls 47 of the upper part 9 or main carrier, and therefore by rotating the lower section 9 relative to the uppervsection the iins will serve to increase or decreasev the size of the pockets as will be readily understood by referring to Figures 5 and of the drawings. The fins 46 of the lower section may also be provided with projections 48 and when the fins 46 have been moved relative to the fins of the upper section as disclosed in Figure 7, said projections will be loca-ted within the opening formed in the top section and thereby decreasing said pocket in size lengthwise or radially making the pocket suitable for such products as chewing gum or candy balls. The adjustment between the sections 9 and 9 may be maintained by forming;` the lower section along its upper edge with a plurality of notches 49 for the recepl tion of a pin or projection 50 depending from the lower edge of the upper section. Thus in order to adjust the two sections relative tp one another it will only be necessary to spread the same apart a distance substantially equal to the depth of the notches 49 and rotate the same axially and as the two sections areconfined between the partition wall `4-an'd the shelf 6 it will be seen that this adjustment will be maintained.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that the present invention provides a vending` apparatus wherein peanuts, small hard candy or the like may be vended and wherein articles of jewelry or other prizes contained within the merchandise may be vended and be delivered with each purchase. The machine is so formed that such prizes may be delivered from the apparatus without the danger of clogging the machine or interfering with the proper operation thereof. The rotatable carrier of the machine is also formed so that various amounts of such merchandise may be delivered or to handle a single article 'of comparatively large size on each purchase. By the introduction of such prizes in the merchandise, it willjbe obvious that the sales thereof willbe stimulated.

yo eninoformed therein in g'ateV being free to swing What is claimed is:

In a coin controlled vending machine including a merchandise containing hopper, a partition wall at the lower end of per formed with an opening therein, a rotatable carrier arranged below said wall provided with pockets adapted for registration with saidopening, a discharge chute below said carrier, means for rotating said carrier to align the pocketswith said opening and chute, and spaced vertically arranged spring pressed Wall and above said carrier, saidv gates positioned below said ates to Uether with said wall forminoV a com- 2:' b

pertinent above said chute and arranged to 'i' swing in avdirectienv of rotation of said carsaid hoprier, said .gates serving to permit of the1V passage ofmerchandise contained within said pockets and extending a distance above the to be discharged into upper surface thereof said chute. f Y

2. In a coin controlled vending machine including. vra merchandise containing hopper, a horizontally arranged partition wall at the lower end of saidhopper and provided with an opening therein, a lrotatable carrier disposed below said wall and formed with pocl- Y l'ets adapted for registration withk said opening upon ythe rotation ofsaid'carrier, a discharge chute below said carrier, a portion of said partition wall being spacedjfrom the top'of the carrier to provide a compartment above and in alignment with said chute, and

a vertically arranged hinged gate positioned at theentrance of said compartment and free 'toswing inwardly thereintov'upon Contact with merchandise positioned within the kpockets of'said'carrier extending above the latter. c s

3. In a coin controlled vending machine including a merchandise' containing hopper, a horizontally arranged partition wall at theV lower'end ofrsaid hopper and formed with an openingV therein, a rotatable carrier disposed below said wall and providedwith pockets adapted forregistrati'on with said opening upon tliejrotation of 4said carrier, a shelf below saidcarrier having a discharge alignment with the pockets of said carrier upon the rotation of the latter, said partition wall having a portion thereof disposed spacedk from the top of said carrier toprovide'a compartment above and inaligninent with said discharge opening Vformedin Ysaid shelf, said compartment havingan open communication with the interior of'said hopper, anda hinged gate positioned at the entrance openingcennecting said compartment with said hopper, said inwardly into said compartment upon contact with merchandise '.ter is rotated;

treo

41 In a coin "controlled vending machine including a 4.merchandise containing hopper,

a horizontally arranged partition wall at the lower end of said hopper and formed with an opening therein, a movable carrierl disposed below said vwall and provided with poclrets adapted for registration with said opening upon the movement of said carrier, a shelf arranged below said carrier formed with a discharge opening therein, said partition wall having a portion therein spaced from the top of said carrier to provide a compartment above and over the discharge opening formed in said shelf, the ends of said compartment being opened to the interior of aid hopper, and vertically arranged spring pressed 'gates closing the ends of said compartment, said gates being free to swing in a direction of movement of said carrier and serving to allow the passage of merchandise extending above the upper surface of said carrier to enter said compartment.

5. In a coin controlled vending machine lined point and arranged between said hopper and carrier for permitting merchandise contained in and extending above said carrier to move said gate means a distance permitting of the passage of the merchandisev to said discharge chute.

In testimony whereof I atIiX my signature.

- GEORGE E. NORRIS.

including a merchandise containing hopper,

a horizontally arranged partition Wall arranged at the lower portion of said hopper and formed with an opening therein, a rotatable carrier disposed below said wall and provided with pockets adapted for registration with said opening upon the rotation of said carrier, a shelf serving as a bottom for said pockets positioned below said carrier and provided with a discharge opening therein, said partition wall being spaced from the top of said carrier to provide a compartment above the discharge opening Jformed in said shelf, said compartment having its` ends open to said hopper, and hinged spring pressed gates closing the ends of said compartment.

6. In' a coin controlled vending machine including a merchandise containing hopper, a horizontally arranged partition wall at the lower end of said hopper formed with an opening therein, a rotatable carrier disposed below said wall and provided with pocketsv adapted for registration with said opening upon the rotation of said carrier, said carrier being formed of two parts each provided with radially extending iins which together form the walls of said poclets, upon the rotation of said parts relative to one another said tins may be spaced at various distances from one another to increase or decrease the size of said pockets.

ln a coin controlled vending machine including a merchandise containing hopper, a movable carrier arranged below the discharge end of said hopper, a discharge chute below said carrier, and resiliently movable gate means mounted ata fixed point and arranged between said hopper and carrier for permitting merchandise contained within said carrier and extending above the upper surface thereof to move said gate means to an extent permitting of the delivery of the merchandise to saidV discharge chute.`

8. In a coin controlled vending machine, a 

